Van Kesteren announces $2.6 million for Ridgetown Campus

April 09, 2010

Ridgetown, Ontario - Dave Van Kesteren, MP for Chatham-Kent Essex, today announced that the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus will receive an investment of more than $2.63 million for the construction of an anaerobic digester and demonstration lab through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

“I am extremely pleased to make this announcement today.  The University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus has always been a leader in agriculture research and development, and with this investment we are ensuring they will continue to lead in the growing renewable energy sector,” said MP Van Kesteren.

“The go ahead to construct this at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus is a huge boost in stimulating the emerging bio-economy.  This investment will provide commercialization, development, research and training opportunities.  The Southwestern Ontario Bioproducts Innovation Network (SOBIN), a Regional Innovation Network was instrumental in spawning the Ontario Agricultural College's new Centre for Agricultural Renewable Energy and Sustainability (CARES).  This funding announcement is the second major contribution by the federal government to support the efforts of CARES to cultivate the bio-economy at the farm gate,” stated Dr. Art Schaafsma, Director, Ridgetown Campus.

This project will be funded through the Community Adjustment Fund, a two-year, $1-billion national program aimed at addressing the short-term economic needs of communities hit hardest by the global economic recession. The approved project must meet the terms and conditions set out in the contribution agreement.